Muslim trust to set up gaushala near Karjan

Vadodara: At a time when the action of cow vigilantes have frequently come under scanner and caused tension, an Muslim trust will for the first time come up with a ‘gaushala’ in the state. The facility will be located at the Pingalwada village near Karjan in Vadodara district.
The cattle pound will come up under the aegis of the Pir Kayamuddin Dada Trust. Working for promotion of cow rearing has been a tradition amongst the descendants of Matauddin Bava, who was fondly called Mota Miyan Bava. The tradition was carried forward by his sons Nizamuddin Bava and then Kayamuddin Bava Pirzada.

President of the Pir Kayamuddin Dada Gaushala Trust and Kayamuddin Bava’s son Kadir Pirzada said that it will also be for the first time in the country that a trust associated with a dargah will set up a cattle pond. The ball for the pound was set rolling in 2011, when revered spiritual leader Morari Bapu expressed desire for it and donated Rs 11,000 towards it, Vaishnavacharya Dwarkeshlalji Maharaj added Rs 21,000 to the amount and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel too declared that he would donate Rs 10lakh for the cause.

Pirzada added that there were initial hiccups in obtaining land for the project at Ekalbara through the government following which it was decided to shift the project to Pingalwada where land was procured by the trust. “We are looking to sustain the facility with our own resources and not depend on any government grants. Only in extreme situations like draughts, we will look forward to any aid if required,” he added.

The trust will initially bring 21 Gir cows and rear them at the facility. The number will be increased gradually. Pirzada added that the pound will not act as a shelter or ‘panjrapole’ for rescued cows, but will direct those bringing such bovine to the right facilities. The gaushala will be inaugurated on Thursday by Morari Bapu at an event that will be presided over by Governor O P Kohli.